JCIO 63/24

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:

The Lady Chief Justice, with the Lord Chancellor’s agreement, has issued Recorder Edward Renvoize with formal advice for misconduct.

Facts

The expedited process in the Judicial Conduct Rules 2023 enables the JCIO to advise the Lord Chancellor and the Lady Chief Justice that a judicial office holder should be issued with formal advice or a formal warning where—

(a) there is no dispute as to the facts set out in the complaint;
(b) the alleged facts relate to conduct which the JCIO considers that the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice would be very likely to decide amounted to misconduct; and
(c) the JCIO considers that the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice would be very likely to decide that formal advice or a formal warning was the appropriate disciplinary sanction.

The Guide to Judicial Conduct states that judicial office-holders are expected to show ‘respect for the law and observance of the law`. Judicial office holders are required to report to their leadership judge any road traffic offences, which result in six penalty points being endorsed on their driving licence.

Recorder Renvoize reported to his leadership judge and the JCIO that he had received a fixed penalty notice for using a mobile telephone whilst driving. This resulted in a fine and six penalty points on his licence.

Recorder Renvoize’s representations

Recorder Renvoize said that at the time of his offence he was focused upon the health of a family member. He picked up his phone to read a message because he was concerned it may have been in relation to this. He did not dispute that he had committed the offence and did not seek to diminish the gravity of the conduct.

Decision

The Lady Chief Justice and Lord Chancellor agreed with advice from the JCIO that formal advice would be a reasonable and proportionate sanction. They took into consideration that whilst Recorder Renvoize had broken the law and been seen to breach the principle of integrity, he had taken full responsibility for his actions and apologised.

Notes for Editors

Media queries in relation to the JCIO should be made in the first instance to the Judicial Press Office - telephone 020 7073 4852 or via email - press.enquiries@judiciary.gsi.gov.uk

Sanctions for misconduct by judicial office-holders are set out in the Constitutional Reform Act 2005. They are, in order of severity: formal advice, formal warning, reprimand and removal from office.

For more information about the Office, including details on how to make a complaint against a judicial office holder, you can visit the JCIO website at: Judicial Conduct Investigations website